Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to enrolling children from new communities, including those under international protection, to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6281/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department continues to welcome all students arriving in Ireland. We are working with all relevant authorities, education partners and school communities to ensure all children of school-going age, who are beneficiaries of the Temporary or International Protection Directive, are provided with access to appropriate supports to allow them to continue their education in Ireland.

Guidance has issued to schools on supporting students from Ukraine and others seeking International Protection that enquire about enrolling.

All relevant information in relation to my Department’s approach and the supports in place is available on my Department’s website and is updated as appropriate. www.gov.ie/en/publication/48639-information-for-schools-ukraine/

Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) have been established to help ensure good coordination and alignment of supports for Ukrainian children arriving in Ireland. These Education and Language Teams are hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards (ETBs) and are staffed by existing regionally-based education support personnel working closely together to ensure good coordination and alignment of supports for children seeking International Protection. My Department is liaising with the teams to ensure all necessary supports for Ukrainian and other children are provided as quickly as possible.

The primary role of the REALT is to build on existing regional education support structures and the initial focus will be on assisting families in securing school places. REALT will also support schools in the area to meet the needs of these children as they emerge, to advise and support the Department of Education in developing new capacity where required, and to co-ordinate the provision of education services to schools and families across their defined area.

These teams will ensure that clear, accessible information flows are in place between schools, local education support services and national support structures in relation to people arriving from Ukraine.

Contact information for REALT teams can be found at www.gov.ie/en/publication/48639-information-for-schools-ukraine/#regional-education-and-language-teams-realt